The mixed-fleet workers have taken action to raise their basic salary from a miserly £12,000 and to end their inferior terms and conditions. Many have felt that BA cynically pitched the contracts at this level with the view of creating a revolving door of new, young starters who move on every few years.

Therefore, in these circumstances, it has been a herculean effort by the union and the reps to forge a fighting force that could take on a vicious employer. Over 1,000 new recruits have been won to Unite during the course of this year's action.

Those crew who went on strike will have their withdrawn travel concessions restored, along with being able to fully participate in the airline's 2017 bonus scheme. It will also see the settlement in full of Unite's legal action on behalf of crew who had been sanctioned for striking.

Many workers will believe that more could have been won if more practical solidarity could have been provided by the leadership of the Unite Bassa branch, which organises workers on the original contract and still number over 8,000 cabin crew.

The mixed-fleet workers have also shown that a new generation of younger workers can be won to the trade union movement and mobilised to take militant action.

The Socialist Party and the National Shop Stewards Network salute the mixed fleet workers and are proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with them. We believe that the settlement is a firm basis to strengthen union organisation.